Compressed-fluid charging and discharging device.



PATENTED DCT. 15, 1907.

L C I R B 0 B Am G. 9... 4 Ow 7 6 8 0. N

COMPRESSBD FLUID CHARGING A ND DISGHARGING DEVICE.

APPLICATION IILEIDEO. 21, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Wi h1 una PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

G. A. BOBRIGK. GOMPRBSSED FLUID CHARGING AND DISGHARGING DEVICE.

LPILIOATIOI FILED DBO. 21, 1906.

ill SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. UNITED STATES' GABRIEL A. seamos, or Los ANGELES, oAmFonNxA.

PATENT. OFFICE.'

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Patentes oet. 1s, 1907.'

Amman-nia nia-tu s1, lees.- stfai s. 34am.

To all-whom it may eenen-n:

Be it known that I, Ganar A. Bonrucx, of Les Angeles, California, have invented a new and usgful Improvemcntin Compressed-Fluid Charging and Discharging Devices, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to means for inflating tires of automobiles and like structures. In my United States Patent No. 802,905, dated October .24, 1905, I have shown, described and claimed a means designed for this end.

The object of the present invention is to provide a strutture of the class mentioned which shall be less expensive to construct, more simple in its operation, and containing fewer parts, to the end that the desired objects may be accomplished with a device which may be put upon the market at a les price than that of my aforementioned patent, and which shall be simpler to operate, and thus in the hands of inexperienced or careless. operators lem liable to damage.

It has been found that the reducing valve employed in the structure of my previous patent, while highly eflieient for the accomplishment of the" ends desired when in the hands of an experienced operator, is neverthelees the part of the device which is moet frequently damaged by an inexperienced or careless operate.' and one of the objects of the present invention is to eliminate V u the reducing valve, and thereby render impossible such injury to the device aswas heretofore posssible'when a reducing valve was used. f

As is well known, when a liquefied .or compressed gas expands a' reduction of temperature results, and this low temperature is injurious to the conduits such as rubber, which are ordinarily employed for conveying the expanded gas to the tire., Furthermore, it is desirable that the expanded gas which enters the tire should not be at a temperature less than that of the surrounding atmosphere, as otlerwisc the increase of temperature of the gas after it enters the tire produces an undesired prcesure in the tire; and particularlyis it undesirable that any liquefied gas should enter the tire. Menus were provided in my aforementioned patent for neua device for permitting gas from the reservoir to expand on its way to the tire, and menus for utilizing the heat of the liquefied or compressed gas iu the'rescrvoirto neutralize tho cold due to expansion.

Furthennore, the invention consists in combining a safety valve with a device of the character above mentioned, if desired, to the end that the degree of pressure for inflating the tire may be controlled by the safety valve. There may be, and in some instances preferably is, a suitable gage also connected with the device, to the end that the pressure of the gas delivered to the tire may be readily seen from the gage.

With a view to permitting the rapid charging or rccharging ofthe reservoir with liquefied or compressed gas and at the same time providing means whereby the escape of the gas (and therefore its rate of expansion) may be also effectively controlled, the invention further consists lin a combination of conduits and valves designed for this purpose, the construction of which will be hereinafter more specifically described and then pointed out in the claims. In order that the heat of the liquefied or compressed gas may be utilized to neutralize the reduction in temperature due to expansion, a portion of the conduit through which the expanded gas is conducted from the reservoir to the tiro is passed through the liquid or gas contained in the reservoir.

This 'conduit is preferably in the form of n coil, in order that an extended surface of the conduit may be exposed to the temperature of the liquid or gaswithin the reservoir.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions without in any way departing from the true spirit of the invention, and for the purpose of illustrating the invention the accompanying drawings have been prepared, but it iste be, understood that such drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of defining the limits of the invention, reference being had to the claims for this purpose.

In said drawings Figure l represents a central longitudinal section of the device with parts shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a similar section of another expression of the inventive idea; and Fig. 3 shows thel device in position upon an automobile in the act of infiating the tire; Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view showing a safety valve and a gage attached to the lower part of the construction shown in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the construction of valve employed to control tho charging cond uit of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 illustrates n valve which may be employed not only for controlling the sion of the gas when the device is being employed to inflate the tire as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring 'to the drawings, 1 is n closed tank or recoptacle of any suitable eonstmction and preferably provided with a neck 2 having an interior or female m `rewthread therein, and 3 is a plug or casting seri-.wed into the neck 2 so as to form a gas-tight joint.. suitable pue ing being employml for this purpmo, if desired. Witbin the casting 3 is formed a conduit 4 mmmunieating at one end with the interior of the reeepmelo l and havcharging conduit, but also for controlling the expan` ing forrnml at the other end thereof a valve seat 5 and upon which may be seated a valve 6. This valve is preferably formed at the end of a screw-threadml rod or stem 7 formed at. the end 8 so as to receive a wrench or other means for turning the plug, and is connected to said rod by a swivel joint of a conuuon and wellknown mustruetion. If desired, howeverthe valve may be in the form of a nemile-valve 6, shown in Fig. 6. Preferably the end 8 of the valve. stem 7 is protected by means of a flanged plug 9 so mnstructml that the l flange entirely surrounds the end 8 of the plug, to the end that the plug can only be reached and operated lby a specially devised wrench or other operating instrument designed for that purpose. Preferably, also, this flanged sleeve 9 and the end 8 of th'e valve stem are entirely iuclosed iu a cap l0, preferably screwthreaded upon the exterior end of the casting .'l.

Formed within an arm 11 of the casting 3 is a charging conduit l2 iu free and open (xnnmunicntion with the conduit 4 when the valve 6 is raised from its seat, which conduit., exeept during the time. of charging, is closod by a cap I3.provided with a suitable packing 14. ily removing the cap 13 and connecting the conduit 12 with the charging apparatus the compressed orliquefied gas lxtsses through the conduit 12 under the raised valve 6 and through the conduit 4 to the interior of the receptacle 1.'

Jithin the receptacle l there is arranged a conduit 'l5 through which the exwnded gas pannes on its way to the tire. Preferably this conduit is in the form of a coil, to the. end that a large surface of the conduit may he exposed te the fluid within tlie tank or receptacle. This conduit. l5 is in connnunimtion with the conduit. 4 'by way of conduit lll formed in the (asf-ing 3. and a valve-seat I7, while a needle valve I8 is provided for eontmlliug the lxtssage of gas from the receptacle l to conduit I5. 'lhin needle valve is preferably at the end of a screw-thremled stem It) whose threiulsnre of so fine a pitch that the opoung for the expansion of the gas may be controlled to a'uieety by such valve, said screw-stem being lprovided 'with a suitable milled Wheel 2l) for the operation of the valve.

'lhe conduit lli lmsses from the valve t8 through the reservoir l and out at the opposite end. lt is essential that the conduit l5 be passed through the end of reservoir I with au air-tight. joint., and as one desirable meansfor accomplishing this end there is provided a `sertw-thremled bushing 2l which is screwed into the end of the receptacle and the end of the conduit l5 is )mssed through the bushing and veeured thereto in any effectual manner, as by soldering the end of conduit. l5 lo the bushing. The conduit for conducting the gas from the conduit l5 to the tire is preferably attached atthis point. As ordinarily employed, this conduit 22 is a flexible rubber hoset.hough obviously it may be eom|msed of nuy suitable material. and may be formed partly of metal and partly of llexible rubber hose. as shown in Fig. 2. To the end of this 'hpse is secured a coupling device 2Itin any suitable manner. aud the said coupling device 23 is then detachably secured. as by screw-threads 2l. to the bushing 2l, the opposite end of the conduit 22 being` attached in. the usual or in any suitable manner to the valve 25 on the lira'.

\\'ith the device as thus formed or constructed, an expcricnccd operator can readily inflate the tire to approximately the desired pressure, but when it is desired to provide. means for avoiding the inflation of the tire beyond a prmletermined point, a safety valve 26, Figs. 2 and 4, of any-suitable or well-known construetion is employed. As here shown, said valve consists of a valve 27 held to its seat by a spring 28 whose tension is controlled by a screw-plug 29, to the end that the amount of pressure upon the valve may bc controlled. The safety valve seat is in open communication with the exit end of the conduit 15 leading from the receptacle l. It will be apparent that since the valve proper 27 will bc raised from its seat at the predetermined pressure, the pressure of the gas within the inflated tire cannot ex'ceed the pressure at 'which the safety valve is ad- 80 justcd.

If desired, n gage 30, for indicating thc pressure of the gas for inflating the tire, may also be connected at thc end of conduit 15, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

In the construction shown in Fig. l, the valve. (t is open du'ring the charging operation, after which it is finnly seated, and iu order that the fluid within the roceptsclo may expand into the conduit -15 for inflating a tire, the needle valve 17 is opened tu the desired cxtent so that the charging conduit is controlled by one valve 6 and the expansion of the gas into the conduit 15 is controlled by a separato valve 18. If desired,'how everptho charging conduit 4 and the expansion of the gasnto the discharging conduit 15 may both be controlled by the single valvo 6, as illustrated in Fig. 2. 95 In this case the communication between the channels 4 and 16 is contmlled by the ueele valve (i and after the receptacle 1 has been charged the needle valve 6 is elmwd. When used in this manner the valve 6 is firmly seated after the receptacle 1 has been charged 100 and when itis desired to inflate the tire the valve 6 is slightly lifted from its seat by manipulating the valve stem with a wrench 3l, or otherwise, when the gas expands past the valve 6 and enters the conduit l5, as heretoforcexplained. 1n thisiustnm'e, there is provided at 105 the exit end of conduit l5 :L valve. 32, to the cud that the conduit l5 may be closed during the operation` of charging the receptacle l, and also to the end that when the tire has become inflated to the desired extent the flow of expanding gas to the tire may be quickly 110 shut ofT.

lt will be perceived that by the use of the construetion hereinlwfore described the reservoir for liquefied or eompreiewd gas may be quickly and rapidly charged, and when it is desired to inflate the tire the gas may be 115 allowed to expand at. any desired rate into a conduit so situated that it will .be practically at all times at the temperature of the fluid contained within the reservoir or the temperature of the snrroumliug atmosphere.

Mori-over, it will be perceived that the exact degree of 120 that in the simpler form of eonstmction shown in Fig. l,

there is but a si ugle valve to be operated by the person inflating the tire, and that there are no parts exposed to damage, `nor-can the operator unintentionally manipulate thesame so as to damage thc device. While thc device as illustrated may lack sonic of the desirable features described in my Patent No. 802,905, heretofore mentioned, it is nevertheless much simpler in construction, and hence much cheaper to build and less liable to get out of order.

It will be understood that while for the purpose of illustration reservoir 1 is shown as mounted upon.-,au automobile, this is not essential, since it may he either mounted asshown, or it may be carried loose in the automobile, or it may even be retained at the garage. Fu

thermore, it will be appreciated that while the devicel ionn of a liquid, and hence should be admitted through a large and free opening, while it is discharged therefrom in the form of a gas under low pressure, and hence bit is desirable to pass it through a small or restricted discharge opening.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination ot a reservoir for a' liquefied or compressed gas. with a mnnually-operable gnsexpnnsion device. and means util- Ising the heat of the liquefied or compressed gna in the reservoir to neutralize the cold due to expansion.

v2. in a device of the character described, the comhina tion ot n reservoir for a liquedcd or compressed gas, with a manually-operable gas-cxpnasion.dcvice, and a conduit leading from said expansion device through the liquefied or compressed gas in the reservoir. whereby the t .mpcraturs of the latter will act to raise the temperature of the expanded gas. 3. ln a device of the character described. the combination of n reservoir for a liquefied or compressed gas, with n gas-expansion device. and a tubular coil constituting a conduit leading from said expansion device through the liquefied or compressed -gns in the reservoir. whereby the temperature of the latter will act to raise-the temperature of the expanded gas.

4. in a device ot the character described, the combination of a reservoir for a liqnened or compressed gas. with 5. in a device o! the character described, the combina-4' tion ci a reservoir for liquefied or compressed gas having s discharge orifice, a mnn'nallycperabie valve 'controlling' the expansion of the gas from the reservoir through lsr'lld orifice, and a conduit leading through said reservoir from said orldce, whereby the cold due to expansion of the gas is neutralized .by the heat of the iiuid in ythe reservoir.'

6. lua device o! the character described, the combina-` tion or a reservoir for liquefied or compressed gas having n discharge orifice. a valve controlling the expansion of the gas from the reservoir through said orifice, a coiled tube constituting a conduit leading from said orifice through said reservoir and h avlng its discharge end pro Jccting outward through the wall of the reservoir.

7. in a device or the character described, the combination of n reservoir for liquefied or compressed gas. with n valve casing having a duct therein provided with a port opening into the reservoir, a conduit lending from said duct through the reservoir, nnd a valve controlling thc passage of gns through said duct.

il. in a device of the character described. the comblnn tion of' n reservoir for liquefied or compressori gna, a valve casing connected tp said reservoir and having an inlet duct lending from the exterior of the casing und opening into the reservoir, an outlet er expansion duct in said casing in communication with snld inlet duct. und n. valve tcontrolling the passage of gus from the reservoir to the outlet duct vla said inlet duct.

l). in n device .of the character described. the combination of n reservoir for liquefied or compressed gna, n vulve casing connected to said reservoir und having un inlet duct lending from the exterior of the casing and opening into the reservoir. n vnive controlling said inlet duct, nu outlet or expansion duct in said casing in communication with said inlet duct, nnd n valve controlling the passage or gus from the reservoir via the inlet duct to the outlet duct.

10. ln a device of the character described, the comblnation oi' n reservoir for liquefied or compressed gus, a valve casing connected to said reservoir and having nn inlet duct leading from the exterior io the interior of snld cnsing. a vulve controlling said duct and having nn operating part projecting from.the casing. n cnp or shield lnclosing said operating part, an outlet duct. n valve controlling said outlet duct. and means exposed on the exterior of said casing tor operating said lnst-mentloned valve.

1i. in n device of the character described, the combination of a reservoir for iiquctlcd or compressed gas, with a gnmexpansion device, a conduit lending from said expansion device through the liquefied or compressed gas in the reservoir, and a pressure-relief device connected to said conduit.

l2. in a device of the character described. the combination of a reservoir for liquefied or compressed gas, with a gas expansion device. a conduit leading from said expension device through the liquefied or compressed gas in the reservoir, and a pressure-indicating device connected to said conduit. I I

13. In a device o! the character described. the combination of a receptacle for a liquefied or compressed gas, and a conduit relatively immovable to said receptacle leading from the interior of said receptacle to the exterior there- .of, said conduit being located for a portion of its length within the area of said receptacle. whereby the gas paaslng outward through said conduit will have imparted to it approximately the temperature of the fluid in the reccptcle.

' In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GABRIEL A. BOBRICK. Witnesses:

B. T. Cuisson, W. B. Knxal. 

